Category: Politics & India

Coming Alive Post Lockdown

The lockdown has changed all of us, as we look at a shift in our priorities, what matters to us, our relationships, work, life and deep transformation.

As the heavy lockdown reduces its restrictions in Mumbai, I stepped out for an evening walk. As usual I was stunned by the beauty of this city, the sky, the roadside, the gentle opening up of things and the coming alive of spirit in every corner. The extreme, frenetic pace of Mumbai, seemed calmer, refreshed and happier. People even seemed to be walking slower. Not sure how long this will last, but still, it was refreshing to see, feel and touch earth.

The lockdown has changed all of us, as we look at a shift in our priorities, what matters to us, our relationships, work, life and deep transformation. I hope you enjoy some of the photographs from this evenings walk.

10 Key Thoughts on the Current Indo-China Relationship

China is a neighbour to India and we need to be mindful of our neighbourhood. Here are 10 key thoughts on the India-China relationship.

We (India) need to accept:

  1. The Chinese are far stronger than us (India) economically and militarily.
  2. We have wasted the last 10 years with no worthwhile upgrade of our systems, military or economy.
  3. As a result we are in a vulnerable position now.
  4. China has ambitions of being a global power and we should let them.
  5. India instead of dreaming to be a global power, needs to get its house in order. We need to focus on building ourselves.
  6. If we need to toe some lines with China, so be it. In the long run, we should convert China to cooperate with us and turn the tables on other adverse neighbours too.
  7. We cannot rely on Donald for US support. He is whimsical and in case he loses the election, India has had it…from China, Pakistan and the US
  8. So we need to play our cards very carefully and very delicately.
  9. We need to find genuine areas of cooperation with China, while at the same time not allowing them to take over our markets
  10. Delicate balance between USA, China, Russia will have to be maintained by India.

Life is Not a Journey

This video which has Alan Watts’ voice opens us up to looking at life through another prism. Not as a journey, but more as a playful happening, with no end result or end goal. There is no necessity for life and neither is it going anywhere. “Playfulness” is the key concept he speaks of. Life is best understood via the analogy of music according to Alan; since music essentially as an artform is playful. Being a musician since I was six years old, this has been my intuitive understanding since childhood. Playfulness and joy are the two pillars life needs to be constructed around and slowly a deep interiorisation of the process begins through consistency and practice, which eventually results in constant joy.

The Art of Not Trying

The blog name change is inspired by this video. Watch it, when you can take a short moment to yourself. These days there are a multitude of videos, thoughts and a high level of information flow and more pieces of unwanted notes, that we are bombarded with. Nevertheless to truly absorb words like these, we need to create space inside, a way of listening with the “non mind”. Don’t use your intellect, just absorb the words of the great Master Lau Tzu 🙏

Hope you enjoy this!